A group of leaders representing UK museums have issued a ?Manifesto for Museums?, calling for a five-year programme of investment to sustain the sector and build for the future. According to the manifesto, an additional investment of £115m a year is urgently required.
The area of greatest need is the National museums, where £50m a year is being demanded to enable them to carry out their core activities and implement modernisation programmes. The manifesto specifically draws attention to a backlog of property repair and maintenance work they require, partly to meet safety and public health legislation. In addition, £35m is said to be required to support regional museums, a further £15m for regional/national partnerships and £15m for acquisitions. The publication of the manifesto coincides with the release of the latest figures on museum attendance. In the year to December 2003, visits to museums that had formerly charged entrance fees were up by 72 per cent compared with 2001, when free entry was first introduced.
Published: 22-03-2004